Wiring trough



J. C LEWIS WIRING THOUGH July 8, 1930.

- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 4, 1927 8% J Lewllr July 8, 1930. I J. c. LEWIS WIRING TROUGH Filed May 4, 1927 2 sheets-sheet 2 JCLewiJ a" wawm Patented July 8,1930

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC JOSEPH C. LEWIS, OF MINERVA, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO CHARLES W'. KEPLINGER, RE-

CEIVER OF THE AMERICAN ELECTRIC SWITCH CORPORATION, OF MINERVA, OHIO,

A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE WIRING THOUGH Application filed May 4,

The invention relates to troughs adapted to form conduits between adjacent switch boxes or fuse boxes; and the object of the improvement is to provide a wiring trough of this character adapted to be easily and readily inserted in position and provided with a selfretained cover or lid, the trough being so arranged and constructed that the doors of the switch boxes or fuse boxes to which it is applied, may be opened and closed without interfering with the trough.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan elevation of two switch boxes connected together by the improved wiring trough, parts being broken away for the purpose of illustration;

Fig. 2, an enlarged detail perspective view of the improved Wiring trough showing the cover removed therefrom;

Fig. 3, an enlarged transverse sectional View through the trough taken substantially on the line 33, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4, an enlarged, fragmentary, plan sectional view of a portion of the trough and the adjacent portion of one of the boxes;

Fig. 5, a section taken substantially on the line 5-5, Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6, a section on line 6-6, Fig. 5.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

A pair of switch boxes are indicated generally at 1, adapted to be connected by the improved wiring trough shown generally at 2. Each of these boxes is provided with the usual hinged door or cover 3 and the trough is so arranged that when placed in position it does not in any way interfere with the opening or closing of these doors and in turn is not affected by the movement of the doors.

In order to insert the wiring trough each of the boxes 1 is provided, at the proper location, with an opening 4 in its side wall extending up to the upper edge thereof as best shown in Fig. 6. This opening 4 is of a width to receive the trough 2 and of a length slightly greater than the height of the trough plus the flange 5 of the door 3.

The trough 2 is formed from one piece of 1927. Serial No. 188,662. I

metal and has integral therewith at each end I a pair of ears 6 adapted to engage the inner surface of the side wall of the box adjacent to the opening 4 and also has integral therewith a pair of ears 7 adapted to engage the outer surface thereof.

I An angular flange 8 may also be formed at the bottom of each end of the trough for en gaging with theinner surface of the box adjacent to the bottom of the opening 4.

The trough may be thus inserted in position in connection with the two boxes by slidably engaging these flanges with the openings 4 in the boxes and pressing the trough down into position, thus permitting the trough and theboxes to be easily assembled in the field.

This obviates the necessity of assembling the troughs and boxes at the factory, facilitating the packing and shipping of'the same and permitting ease and readiness in the assembling at any place the boxes may be installed.

If it is desired to ground the trough upon the box, a bolt or screw 9 may be located through one of the ears 7 and through the adj acent portion of the wall of the box. It should be understood, however, that this bolt is not necessary to retain thetrough in position as the ears 6, 7 and 8 will frictionally engage the side Walls of the box adjacent to the opening 4 and hold the trough firmly against displacement.

The cover 10 for the trough is provided with the depending angular flanges 11 having projections 12 pressed inward therefrom and arranged to snap over the outturned lip flanges 13 at the open edges of the trough.

When the cover 10 is snapped in place upon the trough it is frictionally held against displacement and is so located that the flange 5 of the door 3 will not interfere therewith when closed, while at the same time the door of the box may be opened without disturbing the trough or the cover thereof.

Wires, as indicated at 14, extending from one box to the other, are located through the trough and are thus entirely housed by the trough regardless of the position of the door 3 of the box.

From the above it will be obvious that a very simple and inexpensive trough is provided which is readily attached to or detached from the boxes and is frictionally held in position in connection therewith, while the trough does not depend upon the box door for 5 holding the cover upon the trough; the construction and arrangement of the trough also permitting free movement of the door of the box without either part interfering with the other.

I claim:

1. A one-piece wiring trough for connecting switch or fuse boxes having openings in their side walls, including means extending integrally from each end of the trough for frictional engagement with the inner surface of the side walls adjacent said openings and means extending integrally from each end of the trough for frictional engagement with the exterior surface of the side walls adjacent said openings.

2. A one-piece wiring trough for connect ing switch or fuse boxes haying openings in their side walls, including means extending integrally from each end of the trough for frictional engagement with the inner and outer surfaces of the side walls adjacent said openings, said wiring trough being open at its upper side, outturned lip flanges at the 0 edges of the open side of the trough, and a cover having depending flanges provided with projections for detachable engagement with said lip flanges.

3. A one-piece wiring trough for connect- 0 ing switch or fuse boxes having openings in their side walls, including a pair of ears extending integrally from each end of the trough for frictional engagement with the inner surface of the side walls adjacent said openings, an angular flange extending integrally from the bottom of each end of the trough for frictional engagement with the inner surface of the side walls adjacent said openings, and a pair of ears extending integrally from each end of the trough for frictional engagement with the exterior surface of the side walls adjacent said openings.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOSEPH C. LEIVIS. 

